Harp-taboret.



M. A. CLARK.

HARP TABORET. I APPLICATION FILED 001121, 1910.

Patented June 24; 1913.

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M. A. CLARK; HARP TABORET.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.21, 1910.

Patented June 24, 1913.

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UNITED STATES 1 A TENT MELVILLE A. CLARK, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNGR TO CLARK HARP MFG.

' 00., OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HARP-TABORET.

Application filed October 21, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVILLE A. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Harp-Taborets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an adjustable and collaspsible stand for a small-sized harp, designed to support the harp from the floor at a convenient height for a performer sitting or standing.

It consists of the features hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings as indicated by the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device with a harp attached. Fig. 2 is a plan View showing the tiltable top. Fig. 3 is a detail of the adjustable leg stop. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the device adjusted to less than full height. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view showing the device completely folded up. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken at the line 6-6 on Fig. 5.

Briefly, the device consists of a taboret having a top which is preferably tiltable, to which the harp may be clamped, and having adjustable legs and stops for adjusting them at different positions for varying the height of the top from the floor. The top consists of a frame 1, within which the sep arate portion 2, is carried on pins 3, 3, which allow it to tilt with respect to the frame through a limited rang-e. A headed bolt 2 having a wing nut, 2*, or some equivalent device, is provided in the tilting top for fastening the harp thereto; and a spring catch 4 is provided for securing the tilting port-ion to the frame when desired. The four legs are grouped in pairs, 5, 5, and 6, 6, hinged to the frame, 1, for folding up against its under side in collapsed position, stops, 7, 7, and 8, 8, being provided on the frame to arrest the legs in this position. A bridge member 1 is secured to the frame in position to support a swinging lock bar, 9, pivoted thereto. Not-ches 10 and 11 in the cross-members of the legs are provided to cooperate with the ends of the lock bar for holding the legs in position shown in Fig. 1,-that is, the full-height position. For

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24,1913.

Serial No. 588,336.

setting the taboret at various heights less than this, the stops, 7 and 8, may be adjustable in length. Fig. 3 shows a form consisting of telescoping threaded members, 8 and 8 The invention, however, is not limited to this form, any device of variable length being suited to the purpose.

One pair of legs, 6, 6, is made narrowly spaced enough to pass between the other pair, 5, 5, and is hinged to a block 12 of about the thickness of the other legs, 5, 5, which are hinged directly to the frame, 1. This allows the narrow legs to fold up flat against the connecting member, 13, of the wide legs and hold the latter in folded po sition. The lock bar may then be swung at right angles to its original locking position for securing the legs at their folded position. The legs are provided with feet trending outward in full-height position, so as to trend substantially downward when the legs are adjusted at intermediate positions.

The tone of the instrument, as is well understood, is best when its supports rest upon the bare floor rather than upon a rug or carpet, and the broader the area of support upon such floor, the better for the tone of the instrument, generally speaking. For this reason, it is preferred to form the feet of the taboret so that at their most used position, that is, at full height,-they shall present a comparatively broad surface for contact with the floor; but in order that the instrument may be suitably firm and steady in its position and not liable to slip about on the floor, the said surface of contact of the legs with the floor is preferably provided with a covering of material suitable to prevent slipping, but not such in character or thickness as to seriously interfere with the resonance. A thin. covering of cloth or felt, 14, is preferably employed for this purpose.

I claim 1. A harp taboret comprising a top; legs hinged to the top for folding toward its under side; a locking device for securing the legs in position perpendicular to the top; stops on the top adjustable for securing the legs at a series of oblique positions, and means for securing the harp to the top.

2. A harp taboret comprising a top; legs hinged thereto folding toward its under side; adjustable means on the top for holding the legs at a series of vertical and oblique positions supporting the top from the floor, said my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 6th day of legs having feet trending outward from the October, 1910.

legs in their vertical position and approxi- I inately downward in the oblique positions of MELVILLE CLARK 5 the legs and means for securing the harp to lVitnesses:

the top. JEAN ELLIOTT,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set M. GERTRUDE ADY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

